NEWS RELEASE
Headquarters, United States Central Command
February 24, 1999
Release Number: 9902-10COALITION REACTS TO CONTINUED UNSCR VIOLATIONS
MACDILL AFB, FL – At approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, U.S. Air Force F-15E "Strike Eagle," and U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq, struck two Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites near Al Iskandariyah, about 30 miles south of Baghdad.
The strikes were in response to an Iraqi aircraft violation of the no-fly zone and Anti-Aircraft Artillery fire directed at coalition aircraft.
There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident and battle damage assessment is ongoing.
Since Operation DESERT FOX, the Iraqi military has been increasing both the pace and severity of no-fly zone violations, and continues to enhance its capabilities in Southern Iraq in violation of UNSCRs.
Coalition air and naval forces are responsible for enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq and UN-mandated maritime sanctions. At the same time, these forces continuously assess the level of threat posed by the Iraqi forces and take actions that are necessary to reduce these threats and to defend themselves.
There have been more than 90 Southern No-Fly Zone violations and more than 30 incidents involving Iraqi surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and target tracking radar illuminations against coalition aircraft. Coalition forces enforcing the Southern No-Fly-Zone have responded by attacking more than 30 targets which threatened coalition forces and were in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Despite repeated warnings, Iraqi actions and intentions pose serious threats to our coalition forces and friends in the region. Our actions today are an appropriate response to these threats and are in support of UN mandates.
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